Beds and mattresses

ABSTRACT

A bed or mattress including a plurality of springs which, or some at least of which, are movable in their axial directions so as to vary the compression of the springs or some at least of said springs, without materially or substantially changing the position of the upper surface of the bed or mattress. The bed or mattress will include a base formed as a single structure or of a plurality of sections movable independently of one another so that the compression of the springs may be varied in selected areas or in a selected area of the bed or mattress.

This invention relates to beds and mattresses, and more particularly tobeds and mattresses incorporating a plurality of springs, the aim of theinvention being to provide a sprung bed or mattress in which thefirmness of the bed or mattress may be varied by varying the compressionof the springs of the bed or mattress, or some at least of said springs.

There has been several prior proposals for providing such beds ormattresses, but such prior proposals have all been complex in nature—seefor example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,739,409 (Johnson) and 2,724,842 (Rogovy).Both of these prior United States patents proposed complicated andexpensive constructions for varying the compression of the springs of abed or mattress, and the present invention seeks to obviate thedrawbacks and disadvantages of these and other proposals.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a bedor mattress including a plurality of springs which, or some at least ofwhich, are movable in their axial directions so as to vary thecompression of the springs or some at least of said springs, withoutmaterially or substantially changing the position of the upper surfaceof the bed or mattress.

The springs may be coil springs, pocketted springs, double pockettedsprings, helical springs, or any other suitable springs.

The bed or mattress will preferably include a base to which the springs,or some of the springs, may be directly or indirectly secured, said basebeing movable in the axial direction of the springs so as to vary thecompression of said springs or some at least of said springs, an uppersurface of said bed or mattress remaining in the same horizontal planeor substantially the same horizontal plane regardless of the degree ofcompression of said springs or some at least of said springs and theposition of said base.

The base may be formed as a single structure or alternatively the basemay be formed of a plurality of sections movable independently of oneanother so that the compression of the springs may be varied in selectedareas or in a selected area of said bed or mattress.

The springs will be arranged in rows each surrounded or partiallysurrounded by fabric, or alternatively two rows, three rows, or more mayeach be surrounded or partially surrounded by a single piece of fabricor other material. Alternatively, the rows of springs or some of saidrows of springs may be secured directly to said base. In yet a furtheralternative, adjacent rows of springs or groups of rows of springs maybe adhesively secured together and a bar or other means may be locatedbetween said rows or groups of rows of springs.

The springs will preferably be single pocketted springs, doublepocketted springs, i.e. a pocketted spring within a pocketted spring,pocketted springs arranged in end-to-end and co-axial relationship, or acombination thereof

The base or a part or parts of said base may be moved in the axialdirection of the springs by means of one or more air bags, screw motors,electric motors, or by means of jack handle(s) or by any other suitablemeans, the number of such means being a matter of choice.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provideda method of varying the compression of the springs or some at least ofthe springs of a bed or mattress including a plurality of springssecured directly or indirectly to a base of said bed or mattress, themethod comprising moving the base or at least a part or parts of thebase in the axial direction of the springs whilst maintaining an uppersurface of the bed or mattress in the same horizontal plane orsubstantially the same horizontal plane regardless of the degree ofcompression of the springs and the position of said base.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, embodimentsthereof will now be described, by way of example only, reference beingmade to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a plurality of springsforming part of a bed or mattress according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are views similar to FIG. 1, but showing alternativearrangements of the springs;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show how the rows of springs are secured together whenforming the bed or mattress;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and shows a base forming a part ofthe bed or mattress; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the base or a portion ofthe base in a different position during compression of some of thesprings of the bed or mattress.

Referring to the drawings, and firstly to FIG. 1, there is shown aplurality of pocketed springs arranged in side-by-side rows, one springof each row being indicated by the reference numerals 2 to 16, it beingunderstood that the whole bed or mattress will comprise more rows ofsprings than is shown in FIG. 1. As will be seen, each of the springs 2to 16 are pocketted springs and in fact are double pocketted springs inthat each spring comprises an outer spring and an inner spring which isitself a pocketted spring.

The double pocketted springs of each row of springs is enclosed in ashroud of fabric or other suitable material, one of such shrouds beingindicated by reference numeral 18, it being understood that all of theother shrouds are identical. Each of the shrouds, such as that which isindicated at 18, is open-ended at its lower end as clearly shown in thedrawing, the lower ends of the shroud being secured by suitable means toa rigid or semi-rigid base, not shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that two rows 20 and 22 ofdouble pocketed springs are enclosed by a shroud 24, whilst in FIG. 3,three rows 26,28, and 30 are enclosed by a single shroud 32, the ends ofthe shroud 24 and the ends of the shroud 32 again being secured to arigid or semi-rigid base of the bed or mattress.

Instead of the shrouds 18, 24, and 32 being discrete shrouds, suchshrouds may each be formed as a single continuous shroud.

Referring now to FIG. 4, this shows a plurality of rows of springs suchas those shown in FIG. 1 and shows the rows of pocketted springs securedtogether by adhesive 40A. Bars 40 running down the length of the rowsare intended, in co-operation with the adhesive 40A, to prevent thewhole row rising when the compression of the springs or some at least ofthe springs is varied as will be explained hereinafter. The bars aresecured by suitable means to the base, the perimeter or other area ofthe bed or mattress such that they are not movable relative to the uppersurface of the bed or mattress.

Although FIG. 4 shows the bars 40 and adhesive 40A at approximately themiddle position of the springs—in the uncompressed states—it will beappreciated that such bars and adhesive may in fact be located at anyposition along the length of the springs, including the lowerextremities of the springs.

FIG. 5 shows a view similar to FIG. 4, and illustrates the securing of anumber of the rows of pocketted springs to a base, such securement beingindicated by reference numerals 42 and being provided to prevent theattached rows from rising when the compression of the springs or some ofthe springs are varied. Again, the rows of springs are secured togetherby adhesive.

Referring now to FIG. 6, this shows the rows of springs in FIG. 5secured to a base forming part of the bed or mattress, the base beingindicated generally by reference numeral 50. The base 50 in fact isformed of a number of sections—indicated by reference numerals 50A, 50B,and 50C—the centre section 50B being movable in the axial direction ofthe springs by means indicated at 52, such means being, for example, oneor more air motors, screw motor(s) electric motor(s) or by any othersuitable means.

FIG. 6 illustrates the centre section 50B in its inoperative position inwhich the springs are in their normal uncompressed condition, whereasFIG. 7 shows that the centre section 50B has been raised, therebycompressing the associated springs to the positions shown in the Figureso as to change the firmness of the bed or mattress.

Whilst FIGS. 6 and 7 show only the centre section 50B as being movable,it will be appreciated that the other sections 50A and 50C of the basemay also be movable. In fact, the whole base—formed as a singlestructure—may be movable so as to vary the compression of all of thesprings of the bed or mattress. Indeed, the base may be formed such thatit is formed of the same number of sections as there are rows ofsprings, in which case the compression of the springs in each individualrow of springs may be changed independently of the springs in all theother rows.

The fact that the rows of springs are secured together by adhesiveresults in the uncompressed springs not moving upwardly when the base ora part or parts of the base is or are moved.

In addition, where the springs are double pocketted springs, themovement of the inner pocketted spring relative to the outer pockettedspring, without any movement of the outer pocketted spring, results inan increase in the firmness of the bed or mattress.

Thus the invention provides a method of varying the compression of thesprings of a bed or mattress without raising or lowering the uppersurface of the bed or mattress so as to vary the firmness of the bed ormattress and thereby provide a bed or mattress whose firmness can beadapted to suit varying requirements of individual user of the beds ormattresses.

It will be appreciated that whilst the illustrative examples of theinvention have been related to double pocketed springs, the springs maybe single pocketed springs or indeed any other type of spring normallyassociated with beds and mattresses.

Finally, whilst the invention has been related to beds and mattresses,it will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to otheritems of upholstered units where firmness adjustment is desirable.

1. A bed or mattress including a plurality of pocketted springs and abase to which said springs or some at least of said springs are directlyor indirectly secured, said base being movable in the axial direction ofsaid springs so as to vary the compression of said springs or some atleast of said springs, an upper surface of said bed or mattressremaining in the same horizontal plane or substantially the samehorizontal plane regardless of the degree of compression of said springsor some at least of said springs and the position of said base.
 2. A bedor mattress according to claim 1, wherein said pocketted springs aresingle pocketted springs, double pocketted springs, pocketted springsarranged in end-to-end and co-axial relationship, or a combinationthereof.
 3. A bed or mattress according to claim 1, wherein saidpocketted springs are arranged in rows each surrounded or partiallysurrounded by fabric or other suitable material.
 4. A bed or mattressaccording to claim 1, wherein two rows, three rows or more are eachsurrounded by a single piece of fabric or other suitable material.
 5. Abed or mattress according to claim 3, wherein the rows of springs orsome of the rows of springs are secured directly to said base.
 6. A bedor mattress according to claim 3, wherein adjacent rows of springs orgroups of rows of springs are adhesively secured together and a bar orother means is located between said rows or groups of rows of springs.7. A bed or mattress according to claims 1, wherein said base is formedof a plurality of sections movable independently of one another so thatthe compression of the springs may be varied in selected areas or in aselected area of said bed or mattress.
 8. A bed or mattress according toclaim 1, wherein said base is formed as a single structure.
 9. A bed ormattress according to claim 7, wherein said base or a part or parts ofsaid base is/are moved in the axial direction of the springs by one ormore air bags, screw motors, electric motors, or by means of jackhandle(s) or by any other suitable means.
 10. A bed or mattressaccording to claim 2, wherein said pocketted springs are arranged inrows each surrounded or partially surrounded by fabric or other suitablematerial.
 11. A bed or mattress according to claim 10, wherein the rowsof springs or some of the rows of springs are secured directly to saidbase.
 12. A bed or mattress according to claim 10, wherein adjacent rowsof springs or groups of rows of springs are adhesively secured togetherand a bar or other means is located between said rows or groups of rowsof springs.
 13. A bed or mattress according to claim 2, wherein saidbase is formed of a plurality of sections movable independently of oneanother so that the compression of the springs may be varied in selectedareas or in a selected area of said bed or mattress.
 14. A bed ormattress according to claim 5, wherein said base is formed of aplurality of sections movable independently of one another so that thecompression of the springs may be varied in selected areas or in aselected area of said bed or mattress.
 15. A bed or mattress accordingto claim 6, wherein said base is formed of a plurality of sectionsmovable independently of one another so that the compression of thesprings may be varied in selected areas or in a selected area of saidbed or mattress.
 16. A bed or mattress according to claim 2, whereinsaid base is formed as a single structure.
 17. A bed or mattressaccording to claim 5, wherein said base is formed as a single structure.18. A bed or mattress according to claim 8, wherein said base or a partor parts of said base is/are moved in the axial direction of the springsby one or more air bags, screw motors, electric motors, or by means ofjack handle(s) or by any other suitable means.
 19. A bed or mattressaccording to claim 17, wherein said base or a part or parts of said baseis/are moved in the axial direction of the springs by one or more airbags, screw motors, electric motors, or by means of jack handle(s) or byany other suitable means.